Carriage-step



(No Model.)

J. PENDERGAST.

CARRIAGE STEP.

No. 415,789. Patented Nov. 26,1889.

YI/ I/II/IIIIIIII/IIIIII/[l/2/I/II/ IIIIIIIIF'; II/11114 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES PENDERGAST, OF NEIV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

CARRIAG E-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,789, dated November 1889'.

Application filed December 24, 1888- Serial No. 294,532. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JAMES PENDERGAST, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Carriage-Steps; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full,'clear, and eXact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, aside view of the step complete; Fig. 2, a front view of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section through the step in a plane parallel with the arm; Fig. 4, a transverse section cutting through the arm at the interlocking devices.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of carriage-steps designed for the larger class of carriages, as coaches. These steps are very large and must be necessarily strong; hence the shank by which the step is attached to the carriage must be of wrought metal. To forge the step as an integral part of this shank is very expensive. In some cases the step has been made separate from the shank and the shank flattened beneath the step, the step riveted thereto.

- This is also an expensive construction. In

either case the breaking of the step substantially destroys the whole structure-that is, the shank and the stepso that the renewal of the whole structure is necessary.

The object of my invention is a construction which will permit the employment of a step made from malleable iron, and which may be readily attached to or removed from the shank as occasion may require; and it consists in constructing the shank by which the step is attached to the carriage, with an arm projecting from its lower end horizontally, and preferably of cylindrical shape, combined with a step having a socket upon its under side corresponding to said arm of the shank and so as to set thereon, with a device by which the step and arm may be i11- terlocked, so as to prevent the accidental re moval of the step,vet leave it free to be re- A represents the shank, terminating at its upper end in a flange B, by which it may be secured to the carriage. The shank extends downward, and is curved outward from the flange B, as shown, and terminates at its outer end in an arm C, preferably of cylindrical shape, there being a shoulder a formed at the junction of the arm with the shank.

D represents the step, which may be 0011- structed of any desirable shape, so as to present a suitable surface upon which the foot may rest. Upon the under side of the step a socket E is formed as an integral part of the step, and through which is an opening corresponding to the arm C of the shank, and so that the step may be set onto the arm, as shown. To interlock the step with the arm, a key-seat is formed through the socket and into the arm, as shown, into which a key I) may be driven, thus securely interlocking the step with the arm, and the key, taking a bearing upon the flat surface on the arm, prevents possible rotation of the step so long as the key is present; but upon the removal of the key the step may be withdrawn from the arm. A set-screw cl may be introduced through the socket to take a bearing upon the arm, as shown, in place of the key, or both may be employed. I prefer the key,because it makes the union between the step and arm more firm and less liable to displacement than can be otherwise readily attained.

The steps are made from malleable iron,with the socket as an integral part thereof, and consequently are much cheaper than a wroughtmetal step. Under this construction the steps are made interchangeable, so that one pattern may be readily substituted for another should the trade require, and if the step is broken it is but a simple matter to remove it and replace it by another.

I do not claim, broadly, a carriage-step having the step constructed with a recess upon its under side to be forced onto the end of the shank, as such, I am aware, is not new.

I claim- The herein-described carriage-step, consistder (1 at the inner end of said arm, and the step a set-screw in said socket, to bind it upon the D, constructed With a socket E projecting arm, substantially as specified.

from the under surface of the step, the socket constructed with an opening through it cor- 7 JAMES PENDERGAST. responding to the said arm, and so as to set Vitnesses: I thereon and come to a bearing against the FRED O. EARLE, said shoulder a, With an interlocking device,as J H. SHUMWAY. 

